House District 11 incorporates Creston, Mountain Brook and other communities east of Evergreen, including neighborhoods near Lake Blaine, Church Slough and Egan Slough. 

Democratic candidate Maeve Kintzler did not respond to the Daily Inter Lake’s questionnaire. 

EDWARD BYRNE 

Political affiliation: Republican 

Age: 61 

Town of residence: Creston 

Occupation: Retired Army veteran 

Background: Served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army; currently reside on family farm settled in 1902; youth football coach; member and former president of the Northwest Montana Westerners History Club; life member and former commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2024, Bigfork; precinct captain for the Flathead County Republican Central Committee; member and former treasurer of the Glacier Country Pachyderm Club  

Do you support Gov. Greg Gianforte’s initiative to implement a 4.7% flat state income tax? Why or why not? 

I will only support the 4.7% flat tax once we significantly address the current failed property tax fiasco and repeal the state tax on Social Security. 

The 2025 Montana Legislature implemented a number of property tax reforms. Do you support these efforts? What other steps should the 2027 Legislature take to address property taxes? 

I am adamantly opposed to the two property tax bills that came out of the 69th Legislative session last year. I voted no on both bills. I will bring a package of 9-12 bills in the 2027 session that takes a comprehensive approach to the budget and tax reform, including bills to move multiple tax streams back from the state to counties of origin, such as the marijuana tax and bed tax. 

How will you balance your legislative priorities with local jurisdictional independence and control? 

I will always oppose bills that impose unfunded mandates on the counties and incorporated townships. Also, as stated above, I will introduce multiple bills to shift select taxes from the state general fund back to counties of origin for property tax relief.